By Chris Onuoha 

The aftermath of the #EndSars protest that took place in Nigeria in October, 2020 would not go down the history without coming to mind, the recorded spate of killings, mayhem and torture by security operatives, meted on innocent citizens  who had trooped to exercise their civil rights in protest. 

Much as this peaceful exercise that turned awry was publicised, there are incidences that still send chill feelings to mind, with victims being hounded till date. However, more of the stories of the Endsars protest that eventually ended on 20th of October, 2020 could better be told by unsung victims who were faced by near death experiences in the hands of security operatives that were inadvertently meant to protect them.

Such story of Donald Ugwuegbu, who resides in Lagos and participated in the protest, and manhandled by the combined security operatives in the heat of protest, could be described as one survivor with a swift of luck. While narrating his ordeal to reporters who traced him as one of the lucky survivors, he explained how he became a victim of torture after he was arrested by security agents during the Endsars protest.

He said: “I was arrested alongside other people in a protest that was organised peacefully. We were detained and tortured almost to the point of death. Sadly, there was no proper documentation of our arrest and subsequent releases by the security operatives, as that particular formation that arrested us was a combined team drawn from army, navy, airforce and police. The torture zone was at a discreet place in a different location created for that purpose. It was from there that many were drafted to police stations for further prosecution. At that point, it was obvious that every peaceful protester was termed an enemy of the state and treated as such. 

“The incident however, took a swift turn as we were bundled into a cell, while the security  personnel severely tortured us. The aftermath and scars of the torture is the evident on the extensive wounds on my abdomen. This was as a result of severe and callous stumping and kicks on  my abdomen by the security personnel. Many weak ones amongst us lost their lives. It was terrible. In my own case, I was saved by a friend of mine who was also detained but was released before me. He alerted my wife and some of my friends who mobilised efforts that got me out of the security custody on the 31st of October,” he added.

Donald said he was hospitalised for almost four months at an undisclosed private clinic for security reasons. “I stayed at the clinic till the 2nd of February 2021, when he was released from the hospital,” remarked Donald. 

When asked further what could have led to his strong belief in participation at the protest, he said, being a strong member of the rising political party, The Labour Party, he had a strong conviction that the ruling party’s administration and policies are not people oriented. He further mentioned that the cost of living in Nigeria under the administration was high with obnoxious mechanisms to muzzle citizens who do not agree or criticises their policies. 

“We criticise and condemn the evil policies that affected life and economy of the people. The ruling party also engage in hunting and eliminating anybody who boldly oppose their evil policies. Many people are still languishing in prison without trial since after the protest. Many who have been secretly killed without any trace by members of their family were termed criminals. 

“I would count myself lucky for my miraculous escape from their hands. The idea of this administration going after protesters or anyone that criticises their non people-oriented policies, calls for attention,” he said.

Ugwuegbu lamented that despite his release from the security detention with no tangible allegation, save for participation in a peaceful protest, security personnels still hunt his whereabout. According to him, he alleges that being a member of the opposition Labour Party, he became a target of hunt for participating in the protest. 

He said, on several occasions, cops had invaded his resident in a bid to get him re-arrested, and subsequently, harass his wife and family members. He noted that his friends and relatives advised him to relocate to safer place including his family members to keep them alive. 

Corroborating these happenings is one Ojo Sunday, who was equally a participant in the protest. Although Ojo managed to escape from arrest during the raid, but he explained that it was a callous move by cops to arrest innocent citizens exercising their civil rights. He decried how citizens’ right to free protest or opinion are muzzled by authority, calling on international bodies to wade in.

This is also as some families lament over the loss of loved ones during the 2020 #Endsars protest. Most of these victims are youths who deferred threat orders by fiery cops and got entangled in the process. Human rights activists, civil rights organisations and concerned citizens have cried foul on the side of government actions towards the protesters.